Boxguy Organizes His Saw Blades

Problem: How can I organize my saw blades so that everything I need is close at hand and handy when I want to put on a different blade? Improbable as it seems, I run 3 table saws and a sliding miter saw in my shop. Two table saws are set up just for dado blades. The other is for general cutting.

Solution: As always…build a box. This box needed to have a comfortable handle, a spinning bolt, a telescoping magnet (for fishing the nut back out of the saw when you drop the nut in the sawdust), wrenches, spare nuts, and separate sides for sharp and dull blades. In short, everything you need to change a blade should be in the “box.”

Materials: The box is walnut veneer on a Masonite core with White Oak ends and large Black Walnut splines on the bottom corners (mostly because they look neat). The last one is walnut veneer, walnut tops and hickory sides. For spinners I welded sections of 1/4 inch rod onto the nuts. The holders for the blades are 1/2 inch all-thread held in place by washers and nuts on each side.

Techniques: Build the bottom boards just like you would a box except the dado is in the center of all three sides. For the center board cut the hand hole, put a flat board on each side and use a 3/4 inch round over with a ball bearing on top to shape the inside of the handle on each side. (If you let your top boards come just below your hand hole you get this neat tapered tail that I featured in a close-up photo.) Add a scrap from the center board to each end of the sandwiched board to extend the handle over the dado slot and out to the end of the side boards. Shape the top with a band saw and sander then round it over with the 3/4 inch bit as well. Blend all your curves together with careful hand sanding. (Hint: Glue up the splines, and bottom 3 boards but let the center board float and don’t push it all the way into bottom slot. Remove the center board, from the top and then glue the center board and slide it back in place. Add a finish nail through each side and into the center board, just in case.)

Critique: I think we should make the tools we use as attractive as possible. It makes it more fun to be in the shop and is a way of practicing some of the skills we develop. It would work just as well if it were painted particle board, but it would not nourish my soul. To that end I used fine woods, corner splines, and a design that pleased my eye.

Result: This feels good in my hand when I pick it up, I take pride in using it, and I no longer look around the shop for tools, blades, etc. Everything is there. I leave this sitting on the floor next to my saw and when I need it…I just set it on top of the saw and change blades, putting the dull blade on the back side. As a bonus I just take the whole unit to my local sharpener when all the blades are dull. There is not a market for these, but I use these as gifts for fellow woodworkers who have done me some kindness. They seem to be appreciated.

Nice, I wish I had this today. My new Freud 40 tooth blade proved the law of sharp edge tools and concrete today. could have been worse, only one tooth shipped and no alignment issues. I’ll have the tooth carbide replaced in a couple of months when I have the blade sharpened.

@doordude, The sharpener guy does like these and bought a box from me for his wife. Another bonus for the project.

@tom148, Sorry about your blade. Make one of these today!

For all of you who commented or just looked…thanks.

I have had way too much fun the past couple of months on this site and have learned to use my camera, Picassa, and Lumber Jocks to do better postings. What a fun discovery and a useful new skill. Thanks for the great support!

I’m looking forward to posting some of my current projects: A really rotten box, pyramidal dog ashes urn, and a Chinese chest. What are you working on?